Lord Mādhava would rise during the brāhma-muhūrta period and touch water. With a clear mind He would then meditate upon Himself, the single, self-luminous, unequaled and infallible Supreme Truth, known as Brahman, who by His very nature ever dispels all contamination, and who through His personal energies, which cause the creation and destruction of this universe, manifests His own pure and blissful existence.

Purport:

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura points out that the word bhāva in this verse indicates the created beings. Thus the compound word lakṣita-bhāva-nirvṛtim means that Lord Kṛṣṇa gives pleasure to the created beings through His various energies. Of course, the soul is never created, but our material, conditioned existence is created by the interaction of the Lord’s energies.

One who is favoured by the Lord’s internal potency can understand the nature of the Absolute Truth; this understanding is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In Bhagavad-gītā Lord Kṛṣṇa explains that His energies are divided into inferior and superior, or material and spiritual, potencies. The Brahma-saṁhitā further explains that the material potency acts like a shadow, following the movements of the spiritual reality, which is the Lord Himself and His spiritual potency. When one is favored by Lord Kṛṣṇa, He reveals Himself to the surrendered soul, and thus the same creation that formerly covered the soul becomes an impetus for spiritual enlightenment.

We are reading today from Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 10 chapter 70 entitled “Lord Krishna’s daily activities” texts four and five. Sukadev Goswami is sharing a particle of Lord Sri Krishna’s daily life. In Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita it is said that even Ananta Sesha with his limitless mouths cannot explain the activities that the supreme personality of Godhead Lord Chaitanya, cannot explain all the activities of the Lord that he performs even in a minute, even if he had the entire span of the entire life of the universe to do so. So we understand Krishna is achintya, he is inconceivable, a part of the inconceivable power of the absolute truth is to make himself conceivable while still being inconceivable

Radhanath Swami speaks on how Narada Muni visits all the palaces of Krishna

In the previous chapter Sukadev Goswami explained, Narada Muni coming to Dwarka because Narada Muni heard of how Krishna liberated Narkasura and Bhaumasura . Then after over 16,000 queen took shelter of him, gave their hearts to him. He married all of them and brought them all to his home Dwarka an Island in the sea and there he had Vishva karma create wonderful palaces for each one of them. Now Narada Muni is a very, very perfect genuine brahmachari and still he was so interested in this incredible pastimes. Narada Muni this great brahmachari is very interested to hear about Krishna’s household life, so he came to Dwarka. What he saw, was extraordinary, astonishing, incredible. When Narada Muni came into Dwarka to seeing the beauty of that place it is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Vishva karma himself was the architectural, engineer, designer of all the demigods. He personally made the architectural design for each one of Krishna’s palace 16,108 and it’s not that he used the same design for all of them, each was unique by Krishna’s arrangement. He was seeing the beautiful ponds, wonderful trees, listening to the birds singing.

He came into the palace where Krishna was with Rukamani Devi, there he saw Rukamani the principle of all the queens of Lord Krishna Goddess of fortune herself, the internal potency, pleasure potency of Krishna, the source of Durga, Kali and Bhumi. Rukamani was surrounded by so many maidservants, they were very beautiful and highly qualified and yet Rukamani herself was fanning Krishna with the chamra, very simple menial service. But she was doing, she is the goddess of fortune. So many people here in India worship her Lakshmi puja, Durga puja because they want success, they want healthy family, they want money, they want victory. And here is Lakshmi herself who bestows all of these things, who has everything. She is showing that there is no greater wealth than devotional service, samsiddhir hari tosanam, devotional service means, to speak, think and act in such a way that Krishna is pleased. Sometimes we think Krishna is pleased by very extraordinary accomplishments according to the worldly perspective. Lakshmi could’ve just started creating universes, but she was doing with every single one of us could do, even a little child. I’ve seen even two three-year-old children with the little chamra doing this, they don’t even know the alphabet yet, but they can fan Krishna with the chamra, the chamras are very lightweight, it has little tale. But she was showing us and she was personally experiencing, what is the greatest of all fortune, the goddess of fortune, loving devotional service. She had so many maidservants, who were willing to do that she could have been sitting next to Krishna and had people fanning, but she was doing it herself and to seeing this Narada Muni was extremely astonished.

Radhanath Swami describes how Krishna welcomes and serve Narada Muni, in his palace

Krishna was so comfortable and then Krishna got up from his bed and put his own helmet or head on Narada Muni’s lotus feet. then he offered Narada Muni his own very personal sitting place and he washed Narada Muni’s feet. And began to glorify Narada Muni, that you are so kind, you are a liberated soul, who is always absorbed in meditation on the Lord and you go to even very poor fallen householders like me, just to show by your example and enlighten us in the real purpose of life. Krishna offered gifts to Narada Muni, offered wonderful prasada to Narada Muni, render very menial humble services. Just as Rukamani was offering very simple services to Krishna, Krishna was offerings even more menial services to Narada. After seeing this Narada Muni knew that Krishna is the absolute truth, the cause of all causes, the creator of everything, the ultimate object of all worship. But because it was Krishna’s will to worship him just to please Krishna he was willing to accept that worship, that in itself is an incredible act of surrender and humility. He could’ve started having a fight with Krishna no, I am going to wash your feet and Krishna said no I will wash your feet. But he just sat on Krishna’s throne and allowed Krishna to wash his feet and allowed Krishna to have his queens transfer their service to him to service to Narada because that’s what pleases Krishna, Narada Muni was willing to perform that austerity. You water the root of the tree, every part of the tree is happy, when you please Krishna, everyone becomes on the spiritual level happy and that’s where our greatest happiness. Then Krishna told Narada Muni please tell me how I may serve you? Now that Krishna asked how can I serve you, he said you are the supreme Brahman, the absolute truth the object of everyone’s souls love please give me the blessing that I will always remember you and in every situation I will never forget you.

Radhanath Swami speaks on how Krishna performed different activities in each of his palaces when Narada Muni visits

Narada Muni left that palace because he wanted to go to some of the other palaces As he entered into the second palace, there was Krishna, the same one Krishna and he was playing chess with one of his queens and Udhava, they were laughing together and joking together and playing together As soon as Krishna saw Narada Muni, it was as if he haven’t seen him for such a long time. He jumped up from his seat “O Narada Muni you are so kind, you have come to my house” I am so grateful you have come what a good surprise this is. He put Narada Muni on his throne and washed his feet and asked “how can I’s serve you”? Narada Muni was so much overwhelmed, he was silent, he left then went to the next palace. There Krishna was giving some cows to Brahmins and he saw Narada Muni and got up and said “O Narada Muni how can I serve you”? and he honored Narada Muni and Narada Muni went to another palace and another palace and each placed it was as if Krishna was just seeing him for the first time after such a long time.

Sometimes he saw Krishna doing some fire Yajna, sometimes he saw him doing Shradha for forefathers, sometimes he saw him discussing different political situations in Dwarka. Other times he was sitting with Balaram and discussing some other subject and another time he was with Satyaki speaking another subject, different places he was with queens. Sometimes he was giving a daughter away in marriage. Sometime he comes to the next house and he is receiving a daughter-in-law who just got married one of his sons. Sometimes he is discussing economic development for Dwarka. Narada Muni went to every single one of the 16,108 palaces and in each place Krishna was uniquely performing different activities with different devotees. Each place he was so blissfully surprised to see Narada Muni coming. Now for some of us we would get tired of just going palace after palace. But it’s like hearing about Krishna, the more you if we actually have some love for Krishna in our heart even if we hear the same mantra.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna Hare, Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama, Rama Hare, Hare

Even if we hears hundreds and millions of times, even if it’s the same melody, it will only get sweeter and sweeter. We hear Krishna’s pastimes, whether its new pastimes the past times we’ve heard since the first day we met devotee. If there’s love in our heart, it becomes more and more enchanting. We have a deeper experience that’s the symptom of our sincerity, is our eagerness not for just something new but for Krishna, because Krishna is nav-yovanam ca he’s ever new.

When Lord Chaitanya would go to visit Lord Jagannath in Puri every day was his such a special, unique divine experience and all the devotees with him, because Krishna reciprocates according to our devotion Narada Muni is himself one of the greatest of all mystics in the history of the universe he is personally the son of Brahma and he has the power simply by chanting Krishna’s holy names to travel anywhere, he so desires.

Radhanath Swami describes the glories of Narada Muni

Bhakti Vinoda Thakura composed that beautiful poem Narada Muni bhaje he radhika raman namhe he is always chanting these names of Sri Radha Raman, playing on his veena which was given to him by Krishna. If he wants he goes to Vaikuntha and he doesn’t have to take a long flight, Narada Muni can go to London, New York City, or Moscow. He could go to Swargaloka to Janaloka to Tapaloka to Brahmaloka to Shiva loka, he can go to Vaikuntha loka, he never gets jet leg how is that possible!. Can you imagine the difference in time zones between here and the heavenly planets and the upper planets of the rishis and the sages. He can be there just within minutes, within seconds that his siddhi, that’s his power and he lives long time. Throughout the histories of Vedic literature so many places Narada Muni is the guru of Mrgahri, the guru of Prahlad, and the guru of Druva. What was the devotional qualities of his disciples! he was the guru of the sons of Daksha, he is the guru of Valmiki Muni, the author of Ramayana, revealed a beautiful pastime of Ram the all of eternity.

Previously in the 10th Canto we find Narada Muni was there in Vrindavana to visit Krishna so many times. When he went to see Kamsa, even Kamsa bow down to him, worshiped and honored him, such an incredible personality!. Narada Muni is the guru of the Vyasa Deva, who was the compiler of all the Vedic literature’s, his incredible powers!. We read in the story of Mrgahri how he was very, very cruel envious killer of animals, Narada Muni gave him a vision of his future, to actually see the future. He gave this most degraded cruel person a vision of what his future would be. Not just like people do today they just kind of tell you what your futures can be and you don’t really know if it’s going to happen or not, but they make you really superstitious so you become afraid, so you pay him whatever they want to some pujas for you. But Narada Muni actually gave him a vision of his future he could see it. Narada Muni is truly a great mystic yogi who could perform such supernatural incredible, inconceivable things that we can’t even comprehend. And yet he’s totally humbled to see Krishna and Krishna is not doing it like some great yogi he’s just living his life, sitting on the couch.

Radhanath Swami narrates pastime of Krishna’s different activities and enchanting beauty of brahma-muhurat time in Dwarka

Narada Muni goes to one palace and Krishna has little children and he is patting their heads. giving them nice encouragement, goes to another palace is discussing with the general of Dwarka protection forces what they have to do different strategies. So inconceivable variegatedness and Krishna is doing it all simultaneous. Narada Muni could feel, it wasn’t that Krishna was just making a show. Every time Narada Muni came to a different palace even though one after another after another, he is seeing the exact same Krishna. Krishna is uniquely surprised and ecstatic to see him after a long time, and that’s the way Krishna is feeling. Because Krishna is feeling that he’s giving Narada Muni such incredibly new happiness in every palace he comes to.

Sukadev Goswami describes if we even hear these pastimes, we become liberated from all the confusions, the ignorance and the sufferings of this world. So in today’s verse we find in this chapter, a description of Krishna’s daily activities. It begins during the brahma-muhrata very early morning several hours before the sun even rises. Krishna’s laying in bed 16,108 beds and each queen is thinking Krishna is only with me even though she actually knows Krishna is with everyone, but still thinking Krishna is only with me That’s the power of Krishna’s love, what to speak of 16,108!. In the spiritual world there are limitless living beings, beyond any ability to count even the most advanced technologically efficient computer if you gave it a entire millennium to just come up with a big number, it could never create a number that can even begin to explain how many living beings are living in the spiritual world, countless living beings!, inconceivable! Who can count how many rays in the sun, who could count how many rays since the time sun was created at the beginning of this universe how many rays have emanated from the sun. Multiply that by crores of times, tens of millions of times and we cannot even approach how many beings there are, that are emanating from Krishna. mamaivamso jiva-loke,jiva-bhutah sanatnah BG( 15.7) All living beings are coming from Krishna, they are all part and parcel of Krishna and yet every living entity countless living infinitesimal just as Krishna is infinite, the living entities are infinitesimal, they are tiny little infinite being.

That time little infinite being, what is the power of any one of them in a liberated state, it is absolutely incredible. And yet in the spiritual world every living being, and whatever particular form that person may be or whatever relationship with Krishna each is feeling personally at all times Krishna’s love, that is Rasbihari. When we come before Gopinath the Lord of Gopi’s, Giridhari the lifter of Govardhan, Vrindavanbihari we should understand at least in principle the inconceivable nature of Krishna’s capacity to love, intimately. When Krishna danced with Gopis, Very soon we are going to be celebrating Sharad Poornima during Rasa-lila each Gopi is thinking Krishna is only with me, when Krishna’s with his Gopas friends on bank of Yamuna taking prasada each cowherd boy is feeling Krishna is only looking at me. Meanwhile every flower, every bee every peacock, every tree is feeling such a personal attention of Krishna intimate that’s Krishna’s power to love. Narada Muni is seeing and awakening such divine ecstasy in his heart. This is Krishna’s power to love, he just wants to share with everyone. So in today’s chapter Krishna is sleeping with his Queens and before the sunrise during brahma-muhurata, we read that a rooster begins to crow and when the queens of Dwarka hear the rooster crow they’re very angry at the rooster. Even though brahma-muhurata is the most auspicious time of the day they are considering it the most inauspicious because they know that Krishna is going to leave bed that he’s going to go and begin his day. It describes in Dwarka how at that time all of these different living beings, all these different fortunate people in different forms of life are all so harmonious and integrated with each other for Krishna’s pleasure. another words Krishna’s in the center. Everyone has a very different kind of service and in this case many of them have very different types of bodies and purposes. but they’re all in harmony.

It describes how the parijat flower is blossomed during the brahma-mururata and for Krishna’s pleasure creates a most intoxicating fragrance, that fragrance is carried by the air and not only it is been carried for Krishna to enjoy but as it is being carried everybody gets to enjoy it. Sukadev Goswami explains this way that parijata flowers fragrance is so sweet that when the bees the bumblebees smell it they become intoxicated and begin to buzz and they’re so enthusiastic they are buzzing really loud. and how many bumblebees there are in Dwarka. doesn’t say but they’re all buzzing, it’s their kirtana. Because you see what’s happening, it’s not that they’re simply buzzing because of the fragrance of parijata because the fragrance of the Parijata is the expression of the Parijata’s love for Krishna and that’s why this the fragrance has such an effect on the soul of all of these other living beings. Therefore the bees are intoxicated by experiencing the prema, the ecstatic love of the flowers and they’re becoming intoxicated by that, they are buzzing. then it describes the buzzing of the bees along with the fragrance of the parijata mesmerize the birds and they become so much influenced by the prema of the bees and the prema of the flowers they sings to express that. How all the different birds are singing, different types of birds have different types of bodies and different types of voices and they sing very different song. but they’re all united and they are doing it for Krishna You see in Dwarka, in Vrindavana Radha Gopinath temple wherever devotees in whatever form they may be are together. What pleases Krishna most is when we are all with Krishna in the center which means our own selfish egos are taken out of the center. Then we share our enthusiasm, our devotion, we share our service for Krishna’s pleasure by inspiring and enlightening everyone else to do their best for Krishna’s service, this is Satsang

We are all trying to be the very, very best we can be by opening our hearts with a humble spirit to be inspired by other, so we could be better for Krishna But by doing the best we can whatever it may be in our speaking, acting or thinking and our intentions so that we can infuse other people with that energy that we are receiving to inspire their devotion. In this way Krishna is most pleased”- Radhanath Swami

So this was happening every morning in Dwarka. sometimes we may think, “oh I have to get up in the morning”. But in the spiritual world this is what everybody’s up in the morning, bees and the birds the flowers everyone is just receiving and sharing the enthusiasm with everyone else. The bees are so indebted to the flowers and the flowers are so indebted to the rooster and the birds are so indebted to the bees and everyone’s indebted to each other, because everyone’s getting inspired and inspiring this is devotional service. This is the idea, the concept of sankirtana. Krishna’s non-different than his name, Krishna is his name, Sri Radha appears as her name.

When we chant together without envy as genuine well-wishers, then we are actually putting Krishna in the center, as long as there is envy, selfishness and arrogance then really Krishna is not in the center.-Radhanath Swami

but that’s the way many of us are that we are trying to put Krishna in the center we are trying to overcome these anarthas.

If we really sincerely and honestly try to put Krishna in the center by being the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant then by Krishna’s grace when he sees we are sincere, then through his holy name with the association of his devotees he purifies us of these anarthas -Radhanath Swami

Then Krishna wakes up and his Queens are doing everything they can to keep him with them, but Krishna very lovingly leaves them. He is performing so many activities just to show us how we should act. Krishna is a householder in this lila and he is teaching householders how they should be. However comfortable you may be there are higher principles we must follow. We should rise early in the morning to become purify he touches water very clean water describes he touches auspicious things and he looks at auspicious things. And then he meditates, he’s teaching us how important our sadhana is, we may think I’m very advanced so I don’t have to do my sadhana but Krishna is doing sadhana. He’s meditating, but who is Krishna can meditate on, He meditates on himself that was being described here.

Radhanath Swami describes “Krishna is the source of all incarnation and source of everything that exists and he is cause of all causes

Srimad-Bhagavatam describes Krishna is the cause of all causes sarva karana karanam He is the source of everything that exists aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate (10.8) BG He simultaneously for ever is manifesting as the supreme Brahman as the Brahmajyoti the all pervading infinite omniscient spiritual existence, Parmatma the localize feature of the absolute truth was all-knowing was seated with in the heart of every living being within creation. And Bhagawan the supreme all loving, all attractive personality who possesses all six opulences in full beauty, strength, knowledge, wealth renunciation, fame that is Krishna. Srimad-Bhagavatam explains that there are limitless incarnations and expansions and plenary portions of Krishna so many avatars sometimes Krishna appears as Nrsimha Deva, Varaha deva, Matsya Kurma, Ram, Parsuram, sometimes for the purpose of creation is Maha Vishnu Karnodaksayi Vishnu, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, Ksirodakasayi Vishnu he oversees the creation and maintenance, and destruction of every universes Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva. All of these limitless incarnations of so many different varieties, are always simultaneously existing within Krishna who is svayam Bhagawan who is avatari, who is the source of all incarnations.

In India sometimes people worship various demigods, Srimad-Bhagavatam explains if you worship Krishna worship like watering the root of the tree automatically you satisfy all parts of the tree. So every demigod is fully worshiped when we worship Krishna. Why? because if you worship the demigod you are worshiping that particular demigod but when you worship Krishna every demigod is within Krishna is fully satisfying all the demigod not just the one we happen to like.

There are different incarnations of God that appear in different religions or even in different historical texts of the Vedas. If we worship Krishna, if we please Krishna all the incarnations, all the avatars throughout eternal histories are all within Krishna we satisfy all others. Ram, Nrsimha, Varaha, they’re all ecstatically pleased when Krishna’s happy. because they’re non-different than Krishna they are within Krishna and Krishna is the source of all.

Srila Prabhupada explains how for us every part of the body has its own unique features. It’s like right now, we are hearing with our ears, we are seeing with our eyes, walking with our feet. But Krishna can eat with his eyes, he could see with his ears Brahma-samhita tells that every limb of Krishna is absolute and he could perform the functions of every other limb. Because Srila Prabhupada is explaining the various opulences of various avatars and then he tells that Krishna is simply Sac-cid-anandavigraha he simply the form of eternal knowledge and bliss his body is completely spiritual.

Srila Prabhupada quotes that some philosophers say that the absolute truth was beyond material existence when comes into this material world takes the material body or form. But Srila Prabhupada explains that the absolute truth that Krishna is the source of all energies and he’s the controller of all energies, material energy, the spiritual energy that jiva Shakti, the energy of the eternal soul of part and parcel of him. So Prabhupada says even if you want to believe that Krishna’s body when he comes this material still that material he is the controller, he is the source and he’s the ultimate spiritual object and goal of everything and everyone. So even if you want believe his body is material it’s non-different than him. Therefore it’s completely totally spiritualized, so it spiritual. Because for Krishna there is no difference between material and spiritual that is our perception. In this way Krishna’s source of everything that exists and Krishna is meditating on himself because there’s nothing outside of him.

Previous to this event in Dwarka where Krishna is the great prince of all of Dwarka, he is Dwarkadhish. when he was just a little boy in Vrindavana at Brahmand Ghat he ate some dirt he was just a little child hardly two or three years old. And his friends complained to his mother Yashoda Krishna ate dirt. Yashoda mai asked Krishna, “Why did you eat dirt”,? Now in Dwarka nobody’s chastising Krishna like this. He has already exhibited much prowess of course he did in Vrindavana too. He already had liberated Putana Trenavarta, Saktasura but still the sweetness of his childlike love for his devotees covered their ability to recognize his supreme greatness. they were experiencing an even higher supreme greatness of his capacity to exchange loving relationships with his devotees in such a sweet and Intimate way.

Yashoda mai said, “if you didn’t eat dirt open your mouth” Krishna said, no, no I didn’t eat dirt, but I’ll open my mouth. She saw the whole universe in his mouth. She saw all the oceans and the planets, the demigods and all living beings she saw Vrindavana Gokula she saw herself looking at Krishna’s mouth. As we says many times his mouth didn’t grow, it wasn’t like the Viratarupa, he showed to Arjuna, his mouth was still just a little child’s mouth. But yet the entire universe and he didn’t condensed it, he didn’t do like microchip it .It was actually the whole universe in its full-fledged size is within his tiny little mouth, how is that possible? that’s not possible but that is Krishna. He is yogeshvara.

Srila Prabhupada says in very Simple way, Krishna taught us through Bhagavad-Gita, teaches us through the words of his devotees how we should live our lives.

And here Krishna is personally teaching us, how we should live our lives, we should meditate on Krishna that’s the lesson we must follow in the footsteps. He simultaneously taking our position as human beings and teaching us how we should live and at the same time manifesting his unexcelled inconceivable supreme opulences as the absolute truth. -Radhanath Swami.

Krishna lifts Govardhan hill and then he dances with Gopis and even while he is lifting Govardhan hill, his mother is chastising him, so this is Krishna. On one level he’s teaching us by example, he is exchanging very personal loving relationships and he’s exhibiting his supremacy.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was at his very special feature. He is Krishna himself. Krishna teaches us the conclusion of Bhagavad-Gita is to surrender. The culmination of Srimad-Bhagavatam is to chant the holy names to become purified of all of our ignorance’s. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu plays the role of his own devotee, to teach us how to do that. That’s why Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita so important to us. Lord Chaitanya by his example similar to this experience, he serving his devotees, he is washing their clothes, he is cleaning for them. When he’s Grahstha, he’s taking such a nice care of his wife and his mother. And sages and rishis and great persons come to his house, he serving them prasada, he’s cleaning for them, pleasing them in every way. When he meets his guru Isvara Puri, he is praising him, he’s massaging him, he is taking initiation from him. He said if you bless me by giving me the mantra then only will Krishna bestow his mercy on me. Lord Chaitanya saying this and Isvara Puri is giving him mantra. Because he knows, what is Lord Chaitanya’s plan, he showing by his example my service is to help him to do so. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally by his words, action and by his lila taught us the importance of the association of devotees, the importance of being the servant of the servant of the servant, the importance of gaining a great eagerness to hear about Krishna with each other, speak about Krishna and chant his holy name

About Radhanath Swami

The ‘Radhanath Swami Explosion’–the exponential growth in the popularity of Radhanath Swami–might be a recent phenomena, but the origin of this ‘Big Bang’ go back to 1971.
But Radhanath Swami was little known until 1986 when he returned to India after spending a couple of years in an austere monastery in North America. It was then that the Radhanath Swami that we now know began to emerge in the eyes of the world... Read More